Pure speculation on what might be different under interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur

No one is going to know what changes the Vikings will make under interim offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur until the team actually takes the field. We are not going to see a world of difference from the offense Norv Turner has been calling right away, but that doesn’t have to stop us from wildly speculating without doing any research (okay, I did a little research). Here are a few things I that I think could be different as soon as this Sunday.

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Use of Tight EndsNorv took some heat this season for not using tight ends as blockers to help alleviate the five turnstiles operating as the Vikings offensive line. You can’t blame him too much. Kyle Rudolph is arguably the team’s most dangerous receiving threat. His backups in Rhett Ellison, David Morgan and MyCole Pruitt have all been banged up. Pruitt is the only one remaining on the injury report and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Detroit.

Both Zach Ertz and Brent Celek had decent years with Shurmur calling the plays in Philadelphia last season. Don’t be surprised if a tight end other than Rudolph starts to see significant work.

Rookie Wide Receiver Laquon TreadwellCould this be the week we finally see No. 11 catch a ball? I want to be clear, I am in no way worried about Laquon Treadwell. It is hard to earn snaps on this team and this regime will never play a player to justify draft status or salary. This is one of my favorite qualities about this staff. Besides, remember when rookie wide receivers weren’t supposed to be good right away? Making it extra special when someone like Randy Moss or Anquon Bolden came along? I know those days are over, but I still have hopes for Treadwell.

Those hopes could come to fruition as early as this Sunday. We need to be clear that we don’t know any of the details regarding Turner’s resignation, but it’s hard to believe there weren’t any big differences in opinion at Winter Park. One of my speculative differences is there were a couple of very different opinions of the current status of the Vikings’ first-round pick.

Quicker PassesThis is easier said than done but Norv was addicted to passing plays with seven-step drops. We’re going to see more slants, pick plays, dump offs, quick outs, comeback routes and screens. Yes, screens! Please, Pat! Call all of the screens. The Vikings D got burned by Chicago on multiple screens on Monday night. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata are both good pass-catching running backs. Also, on a screen play Sam Bradford would theoretically be getting rid of the ball in a quick-like manner and avoid being crushed by oncoming pass rushers trying to rip his head off. I think that sounds like a smart thing to avoid.

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